Flying-machine.



J; H. WILSON. FLYING MACHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY 26,1909.

976,765, v Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. H. WILSON. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1909.

Patented N0v .22,1.910L

Witnmeo J. H. WILSON. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1909.

Patented Nov. 22. 191-0.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 J. H. WILSON.

FLYING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1909. 976,765. I I Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

summon oz 5.9; a

Mom:

JOHN HOLMES winson, or

E EX TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY,

PENNSYLVANIA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 22, 1910.

Application filed May 26, 1909. Serial No. 498,591.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoH 'I-IoLMns WIL- so1v,. citizen of the United States, residing in Middlesex township, in'the countyfof Cumberland. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines of the heavier than air type and has for'it s principal object to provide a machine of light and strong construction having means for elevating and maintaining the. equilibrium of the machine when in the air.

.A further object is to provide a device having means .for elevating the machine,

pelling said machine, several persons or two.

persons and other matter may becarried maintainin the horizontal equilibrium and also the sidewise equilibrium, all accomplished by the same device, a function of two devices heretofore, I- believe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a diamond frame'forin of'construction; whichI find is a great improvement, being" stronger, lighter, more compact,-and with 1 4 r 2 modification. Fig. 8 is a detail n perspecgreater lifting power- A further object is to provide a machine that can be rea'dil for shipment, and again can be easily put together and be ready for operation. 1

A. further object of the invention is to providean improved machine for carrying one or more persons and othermatter, depending on the size and power of the mac ine, as byconstructing amachine of large size and of the same form and principles,- and using a morev powerful motor in prothrough the air.

provide-"a machine of this steering rudder controlled by the operator "in the machine, by which the machine can be steered in any direction, {and which also tends or' aids in" maintaining the sidewise equilibrium of the machine by its posit-ion and form of construction. a

construction,

- traveling through the air;

taken: apart and packed A further object of the invention is to.

type having a.

cave surfaces made of oiled si k It is to be understood that the invention is I not limited to the described means for trans mitting power tothe propellers, as any kind of motor mechanism, and any form of power or scope of the invention, it'be'ing understood that various changes in the form, s1ze and minor details of the structure maybe made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of'theinventicn. i

The invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a side elevation thereof, the rear-aeroplanes being removed to Show the frame. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. ,Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a plan of the frame and the aeroplanes. Fig. 5 is a detail inperspective showing the pivotal mountings of the front aeroplanes. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modification. the rear aeroplanes being re moved. Fig. 7 is a partial perspective of the tive- Referring specifically to the drawings, a vertical skeleton frame, standing edgewise, has upper and lower longitudinal bars A and A, connected by a series of upright struts or posts A spaced apart and fastened to the horizontal longitudinal bars at top and bottom. The lowerend of the front upri ht is curved, as indicated at A to avoid .a sharp corner at the-front, which might be objectionable in landing. The middleupe right has a cross horizontalstrut A. The bars referred to are connected and braced by wires 8 extending in various and suitable directions. to vform a rigid structure, the

bending.'- y t Projecting backwardly fromthe rear end of the 11mm frame are upper and lower bars A,- braced by wires and carryingthe rudder B hung on vertical pivots between the bars. The rudder has slightl curved conbeing as thin as possible at the front edge and wider at the rear,thus offering less at guys or braces 8 extending to the central, frame from the outer ends of the cross strut A4 serving to prevent lateral warping or mospheric pressure in passing through the air. The rudder is operated by cables m attached to a cross piece m at about the middle horizontal line of the rudder and to H or the like, to assist in preventing lateral dip or shift. The aeroplanes J are suitably formed of a skeleton frame covered with suitable fabric, and they are slightly dished or curved, with the concave surface presented downwardly. The axial or pivotal rods j thereof fit at their inner ends in the bearings Z above referred to, and at their outer ends they are mounted in rings 7' connected by upper and lower guys 8 extending to the main frame. "Additional guys 8 are extend-- ed to rings at or about the middle of each wing or aeroplane.

At the rear part of the frame are fixed or stationary aeroplanes of novel construction. The aeroplane K is diamond shaped in cross section or front elevation, with its longer axis extending transversely and horizontally and its shorter axis perpendicular thereto and coincident with the main frame. This diamond shaped aeroplane consists of a corresponding frame covered with fabric and braced by verticalinterior struts 7s. As indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the wings of this aeroplane are concave, with the concavity presented downwardly, the.

curvature being preferably somewhat greater than that of the front planes. In addition to the struts, suitable brace wires 8 extend between the arts of the frame, to give the necessary sti ness.

Within the diamond shaped;aeroplane dB scribed is an aeroplane K, located at sub-' stantially the longer axis of the diamond,-

and consisting of a fabric-covered frame mounted on the struts 7c and concaved in a' manner similar to that above described. As stated, the aeroplanes K and K are fixed. Also, their front edges are inclined rearwardly and outwardly.

The machine is driven by two propellers C, C, the former of which is located just in front of the middle strut of the'main frame and the latter of which is located behind the rear strut. They are driven by a motor D supported on the lower bar A,

by means of sprockets and chain P driving shaft R of the propeller. This shaft has a wise equilibrium of the machine.

gear T meshing with gear T on rear shaft R, whereby the propellers are rotated opposit ely. on the struts A E is a seat for the operator, adjustable along an inclined longitudinal bar A. The angles of inclination of the front planes J are controlled by levers F connected by rods 0 to arms 0 depending from the axial rods of the planes.

For land transportation, wheels I, I are provided. The former is carried by a forked spring 4) at the lower front corner of the frame, the yielding support being provided to cushion the impact of the machine when it lands. The rear wheels I are mounted on opposite ends of an axle 1; extending across under the rear end of the lower bar A and braced from the bar A.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 6 to 8 I utilize the same frame and in the upper front part of the frame is pivotally mounted a vertical plane comprising a frame H covered with oiled silk or the like. This lane is pivotally mounted at 17 on a vertica axis The shafts turn in suitable bearings pulleys 15 mountedon the main frame of the machine. in connection with the rear vertical rudder B or it can be operated independently thereof. I claim a decided advantage for this device by placing it above the horizon-' tal middle line of the machine and by placing the rear vertical rudder B mostly below the middle line and. by employing the diamond-shaped aeroplanes attached to the frame as described as the operator. ofthe machine can easily steer. and also can maintain the sidewise equilibrium of the machine when traveling through the air. B employing the improved form of rud er as shown at B, and by placing it mainly below the middle horizontal line of the frame, and by utilizing the device H or H above the said middle line, I am able to produce a torqueor twist on the machine in either direction as desired, so as to maintain the side- In this form-of my invention I employ one rear wheel for transporting the rear of the machine when on the ground and I transmit power to this wheel from the motor D in the machine. This power is .to aid ,in starting the machine, and is transmitted'from the This plane can be operated motor by means. of a friction clutch 8. and

universal joint coupling 9, shaft 10, bevel pinion 11 and bevel gear 12, secured to the hub of rear ground wheel 1. The frictionclutch 8 is controlled bytheoperator of the machine by means of the .lever or pull rod 7. The friction clutch is only engaged and power transmitted when the operator pulls the rod.

In starting the machine to make a flight the motor is started up which revolves the propeller C and if the machine does not move forward "over the ground. fast enough, the operator pulls the rod 7 thereby transmitting power to the rear ground wheel or wheels which causesthev machine to travel over the ground faster and when the machine has acquired the proper speed the operator adjusts the front ad ustable aeroplanes J, J and the machine will lift itself off the ground and travel through the air. As soon as the machine leaves the ground the clutch is disengaged and no power is transmitted to the ground wheel 01; wheels. This effects one of'the main objects of this invention, and provides a practical machine 1. In a flying machine the combination of a supporting frame standing edgewise, lat erally projecting aeroplanes independently adjustable on opposite sides ofthe front end of the frame, laterally projecting fixed aeroplanes at the rear end of the. frame, and propellers one of which is locat-ed'behind'the frame.

front aeroplanes and the other of which'is located behind the rear aeroplanes, the axes of the propellers being in, line with the 2. In a flying machineythe combination of a narrow supporting frame standing edgewise, front'and rearaeroplanes projecting laterally from the frame at thefront and rear ends thereof respectively, said aeroplanes being located at opposite sides of the frame and below the plane of the top thereof, and front and rear propellers located respectively behind the front and rear aeroplanes and with their axes in line with the frame.

3. In a flying machine, the combination of a. frame narrowed transversely to occupy I greater height than width, front and rear aeroplanes projecting laterally on opposite substantially a single plane, and of much sides of said frame and in planes within the top and bottom lines of said frame, and propellers located with. their axes in line with said frame and inposition behind the respective front and rear aeroplanes and pithin the top and bottom lines of the rame.

4. In a flying machine the combination I of a narrow frame having longitudinal top I and bottom bars extending from the front end to the rear 'end of the frame, and uprights connecting said bars, front and rear aeroplanes projecting from and beside said frame and in horizontal planes within'the lines of said top and bottom bars, the front plane's being adjustable and a vertical aeroplane pivoted below the top bar and above the front aeroplane, to swing laterally.

5. In a flying machine the combination of a narrow frame standing edgewise and occuplane, diamond shaped in cross section and wlth its longer ax1s extending across the frame and its shorter axis coinc dent wlth the vertical planeof the frame.

6. In a flying machine, thecombinat-ion of -pying substantially a single vertical plane, adjustable, front aeroplanes pro ecting from' the-sides of said frame, and a fixed rear aero-- a narrow frame standing edgewise and occu- I pying substantially a single vertical plane, adjustable front aeroplanes projecting from the sides of said frame, and a fixed rear aeroplane comprising upper parts inclined outwardly and downwardly on opposite sides from the top of'the frame and lower parts inclined upwardly and outwardly from the bottom of the frame, said partsmeeting at their outer ends, to form a diamond shaped aeroplane with the frame forming the shorter axis thereof.

'7. In a flying machine, in combination, .a

vertical longitudinal frame standing edge-f wise, aeroplanes projecting laterally from said frame, upper and lower bars pro ecting backwardly from the rear end of said frame at the top and bottom edges thereof, a pro-- peller located between said bars, and a vertical rudder pivotally mounted between the rear ends of said bars.

' 8. In a flying machine, the combination of a skeleton frame made in a single vertical plane and standing edgewise, separate laterally-projecting aeroplanes at thefront and rear ends ofsaid frame respectively, a horizontal cross strut at about the middle of said frame, between the aeroplanes, and braces connecting the outer ends of the strut and the opposite ends of the frame. 9. In a flying machine, the combination 0 a skeleton frame standing edgewise and extending lengthwise, and narrow transversely to occupy substantially a single plane, adj ustable aeroplanes projecting laterally at the front end of'said frame, a fixed aeroplane, diamond shaped in cross section and projecting with its longer axis transversely at the rear end of the frame, upper and lower bars, projecting rearwardly from the rear end of the frame, a vertical rudder between the rear ends of said bars,,and braces coi'mecting the'rear ends of said bars and the-outer ends of the fixed aeroplane.

v10'. In a flying machine, the combination of a. vertical frame standing edgewise, and In testimon whereof, I aflix my signature an aeroplane gimond-sliaped llfl cross secin presence 0 two witnesses. tion fixed at t e middle to the rame, with I its longer axis transverse the frame, said JOHB HOLMES v 5 aeroplane having concave surfaces presented \Vitnesses:

downwardly and also having its front edges A. HOOVER, inclined rearwa'rdly and'outwardly. CHAS. McC. STEWART. 

